Phulbani: Padma Shri awardee and celebrated tribal poet Purnamasi Jani, also known as Tadisaru Bai, has been admitted to Phulbani district headquarters hospital in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, where her condition is reported as stable.
The 82-year-old has been undergoing treatment at the government-run facility since Sunday for swollen hands and feet, anaemia and stomach pain. “I am not feeling well and unable to walk due to shivering hands and feet. I will return home after feeling better,” she told the media.
According to sources, Jani has been admitted to General Medical ward of the hospital and her treatment is being continuously monitored by a team of doctors led by the ADM. Her family confirmed that her condition has improved. “She had blurred vision, trouble walking and swelling in face. So, we took her to a hospital at Khajuripada, where they advised us to shift her here. She is much better now,” said her son-in-law Sanyasi Kanhar.
Jani was conferred with the fourth highest civilian honour in 2021 for contribution to devotional music and tribal culture. She had no formal education, yet is credited with having composed over 50,000 devotional songs in Kui, Odia and Sanskrit.
